Give half Apec money to retailers says councillor

Central Auckland retailers should receive half of the $1.8 million the city council got for Apec expenses to help them recover from depressed trading during the summit, says a city councillor.

Jon Olsen says business ran at 40 per cent of normal over the four days. He estimated the loss at about $4 million.

Mr Olsen, whose Hobson ward encompasses the central business district, yesterday called for at least 50 per cent of the money the Government gave Auckland City for Apec to go into a special fund for "rejuvenation" of the city's bars, restaurants and shops.

He said he would approach mayor Christine Fletcher and the council's finance committee.

"The central area has not yet fully recovered from the blackout of early 1998. It is vital to take steps to reinvigorate the heart of our city."

Mr Olsen said the money should go towards promotions to bring shoppers back into the central business district.

But another Hobson councillor, Victoria Carter, said she believed the publicity generated by the event had benefited the city in the long term even if takings were well down.

"People overseas saw Auckland on the world stage. We cannot afford to buy that kind of publicity."

In June, the Government set aside an extra $1.793 million to help the city pay for its spruce-up for the summit.

But while leaders from Asian and Pacific nations were in town, many Aucklanders heeded warnings of traffic jams and stayed away from the inner city.